In Entertainment

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NEW YORK, N.Y. - A day after Trevor Noah was declared the new host of "The Daily Show," his graphic tweets targeting women and Jews are causing a social media backlash and Comedy Central is defending ...

In Opinion

Viewpoints

Viaduct closure will lead to more pollution from idling cars
Isn’t it interesting: It is OK to close the Georgia Viaduct, causing traffic congestion and increasing greenhouse gas emissions to film a movie...

In Health

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Health Canada says stronger warnings about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours are being added to prescribing information for all drugs used to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder...

Last year: Alex Burrows struggled badly in the postseason. It was later revealed he’d been playing through a shoulder injury that required surgery.

This year: Burrows is healthy and has eight goals in his last 14 games.

Last year: Ryan Kesler didn’t score a single goal against the Blackhawks. It was later revealed he’d hurt his shoulder in the Los Angeles series.

This year: Kesler‘s coming off a 41-goal season, including five goals in his last five games.

Last year: The Canucks lost their composure against the agitating Blackhawks. And that’s putting it nicely. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say they lost their minds. Either way you put it, Chicago destroyed the Canucks’ focus by getting under their skin.

This year: Vancouver’s made a concerted effort to knock off the chirping after whistles and focus on the game at hand.

Specifically ordered by Mike Gillis to grow up and stop reacting to every bit of trash talk were Kesler and Burrows.

Meanwhile, Shane O’Brien was shipped to Nashville where the nickname “Mouth of the South” was just waiting for him.

This year: Vancouver’s penalty killing has been excellent (3rd, 85.6%).

Last year: The Canucks were without their top shutdown defenceman, Willie Mitchell, who missed the playoffs with a concussion.

This year: Dan Hamhuis and Kevin Bieksa have formed one of the top shutdown duos in the NHL. Both players are healthy.

Last year: The Canucks went into the Chicago series with a bottom pairing of Andrew Alberts and Shane O’Brien on defence (combined cap hit: $2.65 million).

This year: The Canucks have a bottom pairing of Sami Salo and Keith Ballard (combined cap hit: $7.7 million).

Last year: Salo took a puck in the groin during Game 5 that left him rather tentative in Game 6, the same game that Alex Edler was forced to leave early with an ankle injury.

This year: Hopefully that doesn’t happen again.

Last year: Dustin Byfuglien owned the Canucks.

This year: Byfuglien can’t own the Canucks because he was traded to the Thrashers.

Last year: The Blackhawks had depth forwards like Andrew Ladd, Kris Versteeg and John Madden.

This year: The Blackhawks have depth forwards like Michael Frolik, Fernando Pisani and Jake Dowell.

Last year: Pavol Demitra was on the Canucks.

This year: Demitra isn’t on the Canucks.

Last year: The Blackhawks had a rookie, Antti Niemi, in goal.

This year: The Blackhawks have a rookie, Corey Crawford, in goal. (Which is really pushing your luck.)

Last year: Roberto Luongo wasn’t the same after the Olympics. And while there’s no proof this was the case, theoretically, playing the most nerve-racking position in four of the most important games in a country’s sporting history could leave one mentally fatigued.

This year: Luongo’s playing his best hockey in years. No Olympics. No excuses.